GANGTOK,: The Sikkim Newar Guthi (SNG) is celebrating Indrajatra 2024 with the
theme ‘Our festival, our identity’ at a national-level with an array of festive
activities.
SNG
Indrajatra celebration community chairman MK Pradhan, speaking to the media
here on Sunday, said the Indrajatra this year is scheduled on September 17 but
celebrations would start from August 26 with traditional Newar folk dance and
musical instrument competitions.
Similarly,
Bhaju Sikkim and Mayju Sikkim 2024 is slated to begin from September 6 with
the celebration committee also planning to hold Newar literary competition,
Baucha Sikkim 2024 and Maicha Sikkim 2024.
We
are organising a Newar students’ conclave on September 13 to encourage and
attract Newar community youth towards their language, said the celebration
committee president.
Indrajatra
puja is scheduled this year for eight days from September 15 to 22 while the
jatra falls on September 17.
The
main Indrajatra celebration on September 17 would be attended by Chief Minister
PS Golay as the chief guest, and the festival will commence with a jatra from
Bhanu Udyan till Manan Kendra, informed Pradhan.
A
three-day traditional Newar exhibition would be held in MG Marg here on
September 15-17 showcasing the traditional attire, food, instruments,
literature and cultural legacies of the community.
Pradhan
invited the associations and organisations of all communities to witness the
Indrajatra celebration. He informed that guests from other Northeastern States
and neighbouring regions of North Bengal along with Newar community
representatives from various States are attending the festival.
Guests
from Nepal are also expected to attend the Indrajatra celebrations here.
SNG
president Mahendra Pradhan thanked the Indrajatra celebration committee members
for their efforts and appealed to the representatives of all communities of
Sikkim to take part in the festival.
The
SNG and celebration committee members released posters of the event at the
press meet. It was also attended by SNG general secretary Dr. Sushan Pradhan,
celebration committee vice chairman Binod Pradhan, Rohini Pradhan and
celebration committee treasurer Chitralekha Pradhan.
